As the hopes and dreams of 2017 cloud our vision, it is only appropriate to celebrate 2016 with one final hooray by looking back at the most dynamic and intriguing album of the year. Topping the R&B chart at number one on itunes, Childish Gambino's "Awaken, My Love!" is a fluorescent, baby blue gem that shines bright, leaving 2016 a shred of dignity to hang on to. Gambino takes the listener on a fantastic voyage laced with psychedelic synths, eerie guitar riffs, pleading vocals, and groovy bass lines. Mix it all together over eleven tracks and you're left with 49 heavenly minutes of cold hard FUNK.
Childish Gambino
makes it easy for the listener to dip their feet in the water with the opening
track "Me And Your Mama".
Opening with a twinkling synth with a touch of distortion, its hard to
tell whether the song is a beautiful lullaby or an entirely different beast. As
the bass and vocals flow in, it is clear that the song is of the later. As the
percussion slowly grows more rapid and dynamic, the listener is suddenly
submerged in the raging waters, surrounded by a crippling guitar and demonic
laughs. Even further, Gambino steals
your final breath away with vocals and screams that make the skin crawl. At this point, it's too late. The boogieman has snatched your soul and you
are a zombie entranced and under the influence of Gambino's one of a kind
sound.
Overall the album
sounds like a tribute to the wicked and frightening celebration of Halloween
with tracks entitled "Terrified", "Boogieman", and
"Zombies". However "Awaken, My
Love!" isn't built entirely on darkness and fear. Songs like "Have Some Love" and
"California" bring a refreshing brightness that transcends the
lurking tones of the rest of the album.
In the refrain of "Have Some Love" Gambino is supported with
backing vocals as he sings of unity and compassion "Have a word for you
brother/have some time for one another/really love one another". On the most gleeful track of the album,
"California", Gambino slurs his lyrics in a way that makes his voice
synonymous with the bouncing bass and synths, while a frolicsome pan flute
steals the show.
The lead single,
"Redbone" is funky slow jam like no other. The girth of the song consists of Gambino
crooning with a scratchy falsetto over the top of a slap bass line. To add to the sex infused lyrics, Gambino
sprinkles in delicate chimes of a xylophone, turntable scratches, and a dirty
guitar solo that is sure to make your head sway from side to side.
The crowning jewel
of the album clocks in as the shortest track of the collection, however the
contagious "Riot", only needs a mere two minutes to take control of
your brain and get you on your feet. Driven by fast paced drums, clanks of
cowbell, and a vibraslap, the song has enough pulse to bring someone back to
life better than an AED. Paired with a shredding electric guitar and Gambino
shouting "I can feel it deep inside
my body" and, "Everyone, get down baby", its nearly impossible
to dodge the pure exuberance of funk.
This album possesses
enough funkadelic energy to "awaken" the resting soul of James Brown,
the father of funk. "Awaken, My Love!" furthers Donald
Glover's case to becoming the greatest talent of our generation. After
triumphing in acting, comedy, TV production, pop, rap, and now funk, the only
question of his talent that remains is "What will he conquer next?"
